May, Trotter & Fox Reelected as Trustees

South Alabama Electric Cooperative held its annual meeting on Oct. 31 for members to cast ballots to fill three seats on the Board of Trustees.

This year’s meeting, held at the SAEC office complex, included a business session, and members also had the option to submit their ballots by mail. Each member who voted received a $20 bill credit. This year, 2,668 votes were cast, fulfilling the requirement to meet a quorum.

“Voting in a cooperative election is the most important right of the membership, and we thank all members for taking the time to cast their vote,” SAEC General Manager David Bailey says.

Meet Your Board Members

All the incumbents up for reelection secured new terms on the SAEC board. Raymond Trotter was reelected in District 3, Ben Fox in District 4, and James May claimed the At-Large seat.

Raymond Trotter and his wife, Bonnie, live in the Live Oak Community. He recently retired from Luverne Co-op Services, where he worked for 41 years. He is a member of Live Oak Methodist Church and serves as chairman of its board of trustees. He is a graduate of Troy University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing. He is a member of the Crenshaw County Cattleman’s Association.

tween Luverne and Brantley. He owns a home-building construction company. He is a member of Alabama Home Builders Association and Mt. Zion Baptist Church. He is taking courses to obtain a Certified Cooperative Director certificate and Board Leadership certification from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

James May and his wife, Carolyn, are longtime Crenshaw County residents. They are members of the Helicon Baptist Church, where he serves as a deacon and chairman of the trustee board. He has been a project engineer for Montgomery County for 26 years. May also serves on the Mon-Cre Telephone Cooperative Board and on the Crenshaw County Economic and Industrial Development Authority.

Lea Jordan came to work at South Alabama Electric Cooperative in August 2022 as a customer service representative. When members come to the office, Jordan’s face is 1 of the first ones they see. From helping members make their payments to directing calls to the correct departments, she has a broad range of duties

What Are Your Responsibilities?

As a CSR, my responsibilities include answering and directing telephone calls, routing members and guests to the proper departments, assisting members with billing questions and explaining billing and policies to members, posting member payments, maintaining an accurate balance in the cash drawer, creating service orders, assisting during power outages and performing any other duties as needed.

What Made You Want to Join the SAEC Team?

SAEC is truly a family atmosphere. I felt at home as soon as I walked in the door. Everyone is so welcoming, and we truly all work together to best serve our members.

What is Your Favorite Part of the Job?

My favorite part of the job is being able to work with some amazing people. They are all so fun to work with, and they really make this job enjoyable. I also enjoy getting to work with the members and getting to assist them with their needs. Hopefully, we can put a smile on their face by the time they leave the SAEC office and brighten their day a little.

What Do You Think is the Most Important Impact SAEC Has On its Community?

I believe that the most important impact SAEC has on the community is the generous donations and time that they provide to the programs and organizations in our community. Their involvement in the community radiates, and it is another important reason why I love being part of the SAEC family.

What’s Your Favorite Thing to Do When You Aren’t Working?

I love spending time with my family. My husband, Marcus, and I have been married for 7 years. I have 1 daughter and 1 stepdaughter, and they all make life so fun. We love to go to the beach together and just enjoy spending time together.

What’s the Best Piece of Advice You’ve Ever Been Given?

Work hard in all that you do and put your trust in God.

Delaney Kervin's life has always revolved around service - service to his family, his country, his students and South Alabama Electric Cooperative (SAEC) members as the chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Throughout his life, Kervin has exuded a light that shines as a beacon, helping to guide others and embodying the true definition of service.

Reminders of that service remain all around him. Photos line the shelves of his living room, reflections of a life well-lived, including an honorable stint in the military. A storied career as an educator and coach has made Kervin a household name around Pike County, as he's played a role in many young students' lives during his tenure at Pike Liberal Arts School.

In the Army

He recalls moving "to town" to Greenville on June 25, 1950, the day the Korean War began. Growing up in Kolb City, a small community in Butler County, Kervin attended Greenville High School. He joined the Army National Guard, but a flyer attached to a bulletin board at the school would soon change the course of his life.

"The flver said that if I joined the Army, I would get the GI Bill, he recalls. The GI Bill was established in 1944 to help qualified veterans fund college or job training.

Knowing that was what he needed to do to be able to afford college, Kervin enlisted in the U.S. Army. There was also another reason he signed up so quickly. "The recruiter told me I would get to go to Europe," he says. "I wanted to see the World War II sights over there."

Kervin reported to basic training, and after that training, he ended up on a train. "I noticed we were heading west, and I told my buddy, 'We aren't going east, are we? Europe is that way," he recalls, laughing

He soon learned the train was headed to Washington state, where he would board a 2-stacker ship and journey to Tokyo. "It was such a smooth ride for 9 days from Tacoma, he says.

Once the troops sailed into Tokyo, they were flown to the island of Okinawa in a Boeing B-29 bomber. "That was a big thrill for me," he says.

Kervin's unit stayed on Okinawa for 28 months during peacetime. "I got to look out over the East China Sea every morning, and it was as pretty as could be" he says. But times on the island were not always peaceful, especially with the looming threat of typhoons. "The typhoons were a little scary" he says. "The lights would be off and the wind would howl, but the thing that scared me most was when your bed would start walking across the floor, and your buddy ended up on the floor because he got thrown off of his bed"

Kervin completed his service and returned home to Alabama. He enrolled as a student on December 2, 1957, at Troy State Teachers College, which is now Troy University. A young lady on campus caught his eye, and he told his buddy, "That's gonna be my wife."

Quintilla Houston was raised in Oak Grove and was also attending Troy State Teachers College, studying education. The 2 later married at Oak Grove Methodist Church, which is within view of their current home. They will celebrate 63 years of marriage in December.

Kervin did earn his GI Bill benefits. During that time, he received $110 per month while he was single. Once he married, it increased to $120 per month.

He graduated from Troy State Teachers College with bachelor's degrees in history, education, and biology. He later earned his master's in education from Auburn University at Montgomery.

After graduating, Kervin had an opportunity to teach biology in Milton, Florida. He and his wife, both educators now, traveled to Florida so Kervin could interview for the job. He also received an offer to teach at a school in Crest-View, Florida. "I thought, ‘I might as well stop and talk to them, too. The principal said I could start working immediately," he says. "I asked Quintilla which job I should take, and she said 'Crestview' because it was 50 miles closer to home than the other."

The Kervins lived and worked in Crestview for the 1st 10 years of their marriage. Quintilla taught fifth grade, and they had their son, Jeff. They moved to Oak Grove in 1970 and built the home they still live in. Their daughter, Kelli Kervin Brookins, was born, and the couple settled into their life back home in Alabama. They now have 5 grandchildren: Jackson and Cole Cleveland, Joel Kervin and Zane and Cade Brookins.

Home in Alabama

While still in Florida but looking to make a move back to Alabama, Kervin heard about a private school that was being built. "Quintilla and I were both looking for a job in the county and couldn't find anything, so I asked Pete Farrah for a job,” he says. Farrah was the 1st headmaster at Pike Liberal Arts School and offered jobs to the Kervins.

Both the Kervins taught at Pike Lib, with Delaney becoming the headmaster in 1972. "Headmaster means assistant manager, assistant coach and janitor,” he says with a laugh. “At some point, I did a little of everything there."

Kervin often stepped in as a substitute when teachers needed to be off. Once the students in those classes were settled and working on their assignments, he liked to read to them from Winston Churchill's diary. He loved the book so much, that he made it a point to read to almost every class he would watch over. "About a year before I retired, 1 of my students said, 'Mr. Kervin, you've been reading that book since I was in 2nd grade. He was a senior by that time. I told him, 'Well, I'm a slow reader," Kervin jokes.

He was also the assistant football coach for 25 years and the head golf coach, claiming 2 state titles. He was inducted into the Alabama Independent Schools Association Hall of Fame in 2000.

Looking back on his career, Kervin says he didn't plan to become an educator, but he now knows it's what he was meant to do with his life. "The moment I went in to teach those young ones, I just knew I was doing the right thing” he says. Even when other job opportunities would come along, he just couldn't leave teaching.

After 31 years as headmaster at Pike Lib, Kervin retired in 2001. “I did a lot of life-preaching to those kids. I wanted them to do good,” he says. Members of the Pike Lib senior classes presented their headmaster with a plaque at the end of their high school careers. Kervin has dozens, with many echoing the same appreciation of his fatherly guidance throughout the years. "Thanks for all your love and for being a daddy to us for all these years. We love you," reads the plaque from the Class of 1981.

Service to Community

In 1993, Kervin was elected to the South Alabama Electric Cooperative Board of Trustees. He replaced J.A. Young as the District 5 representative. During his tenure, he has been vice president and is now president.

"As a coach and a headmaster, Delaney Kervin taught me the value of good leadership and hard work, says SAEC General Manager David Bailey. "He brought those same principles to his role on our Board of Trustees. No matter what new challenges our cooperative faced, he was always ready to face those for our members. He always kept me in line and has always been my biggest supporter. He often tells me that I'm proud of you, son." During his time serving on the board, he has seen many changes, Kervin says.

He remembers life without electricity and how much it changed when they had it, from the small pleasures of listening to country music on the radio his mother had bought to no longer having to study by lamplight. Kervin says he is proud to serve on a board for an organization that changes lives for the better.

"Being a trustee for SAEC has been a real privilege. It's a good organization. When the lights go out, we're fortunate to have the kind of co-op we have," he says.

Each year, South Alabama Electric Cooperative (SAEC) selects 10 high school juniors from the cooperative's service area to attend the Alabama Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Montgomery. Students will receive a free trip to the state Capitol, where they will meet other students from across the state, visit historic sites, and participate in leadership and team-building activities for an immersive and enriching experience.

2 of the SAEC delegates will also be selected to attend the National Rural Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Washington, D.C.

Interested? Great! Here's What To Do:

1. Pick up an application from your school's guidance counselor or download it from SAEC website.
2. Tell us why we should choose you to represent SAEC.
3. Do some research. Learn about electric cooperatives, SAEC, your local senators and representatives. You will be asked about these topics during your interview.
4. After completing the application and supporting documents, return them to your guidance counselor or mail them to:
   South Alabama Electric Cooperative
   Attention: Andy Kimbro
   P.O. Box 449
   Troy, AL 36081

Applications Must Be Received No Later Than December 15 at 5 p.m.

The Montgomery Youth Tour will be from March 13 through 15. A panel will review all applications and conduct interviews on January 8 to select the winners.

The 86th Annual Meeting of South Alabama Electric Cooperative was held on Tuesday, October 31st at its headquarters. We would like to thank all the members who made their vote count in the election process. Congratulations to James May representing the At-Large District, Raymond Trotter representing District 3 and Ben Fox representing District 4 as they were re-elected to continue serving the members of South Alabama Electric for the next 3 years.

South Alabama Electric Cooperative would like to congratulate the Brantley High School softball team and the Ariton High School baseball team on winning 2023 state championships.

Brantley won its 6th state title in school history with a 6 to 2 win in the Class 1A state title game. Ariton won its first championship in school history with a 2 to 1 victory over Vincent in the state finals.

We are proud of these teams’ hard work and dedication. Thank you for representing our area so well!

It’s early morning, and the unmistakable scent of freshly boiled peanuts fills the air as people line up in anticipation of savoring the salty, soft treats. Smiles are everywhere, and volunteers scramble to get the first batch ready to sell.

This scene happens every Labor Day weekend in Luverne, when the Crenshaw County Alcazar Shrine Club hosts its annual charity event. The World’s Largest Peanut Boil is a 5 decades-old tradition that gains more popularity with every passing year. Multiple batches of freshly boiled peanuts — delivered from Holland Farms in Florida by the truckload — are prepared throughout the day for 4 full days. By the end of the final day, everything is usually sold out.

Crenshaw County Shrine Club President Andy Compton says the event started in the early 1970s with a group of Shriners looking to raise money. “They got together, bought some peanuts, loaded them on a pickup truck, and started selling a couple hundred pounds of boiled peanuts on the street,” he says.

The fundraiser grew every year, eventually leading to the construction of the shed where it is currently hosted.

The peanut boil is organized and hosted by the Crenshaw County Alcazar Shrine Club, an Alcazar Shriners of Montgomery branch. Each club works to support the mission of Shriners International, “to change and improve lives,” with a focus on philanthropy. The proceeds from the event will benefit Shiners International, the organization that runs Shriners Children’s hospitals and outpatient centers.. Every year, the event is also dedicated to the memory of an Alcazar Shrine Club member or a member’s wife.

The World’s Largest Peanut Boil relies heavily on the help of volunteers who prepare, bag and sell the long-awaited delicacy. “It started as a Shrine Club event and grew into a major community event,” Compton says. “The Crenshaw County Shrine Club still hosts and organizes it, but nowadays, most people helping out with t he event are volunteers. It’s something the whole community looks forward to year after year.”

During the pandemic, crowds were smaller, and volunteers were harder to find. Compton says the event was still a success despite the challenges. “We tried to follow all safety guidelines. There were fewer people helping, and many were being cautious,” he says. “But we were still able to reach our goal and were sold out at the end.”

In 2022, things bounced back to normal. The crew started at 4:30 a.m. firing up each of the five 10-foot long boilers. Each boiler tank holds 750 pounds of peanuts and 250 gallons of water. The peanut boil receives massive support from the entire community, including a local family-owned grocery store that donates 2 tons of salt. The peanut boil attracts visitors from near and far. Some return to the shed multiple times during the weekend to buy more peanuts, and many will drive more than three hours to get their fill.

Compton has been involved with organizing the event since the 1990s, and shares a few stories that show how important the peanut boil is. “This one gentleman stopped by on his way to Florida, but at the time, we were sold out and working on the next batch,” Compton recalls. “He got back in his car, drove his family to Florida, then came back two hours later when the new batch was ready.”

According to Compton, many people come ready to wait in line for several hours. “1 year, there was a lady who brought a chair, a packed lunch and got in line. The line would move, and she would move her chair along. Once she got to the front of the line hours later, we were sold out,” he says. “She just grabbed a book and continued sitting on her chair and reading until the next batch was ready.”

The 2023 World’s Largest Peanut Boil is during Labor Day weekend, when Shrine Club members and volunteers will cook up another 34 tons of boiled peanuts. While the days are long for those working at the peanut boil — starting as early as 4:30 a.m. and finishing by 11 p.m. — Compton says everyone still enjoys participating because of the sense of camaraderie and the opportunity to connect with old and new friends from all over the area.

For those folks who have never been to the peanut boil, Compton offers some valuable advice. “Do you like to wake up early?” he chuckles. “I say the best time to come is before daylight. We often have peanuts leftover from the night before, and you can be sure to get some."

Get updates about this year’s peanut boil and learn more by following the Crenshaw County Alcazar Shrine Club’s World’s Largest Peanut Boil Facebook page.

Wake Up & Smell the Peanuts

The World’s Largest Peanut Boil by the numbers

• 4 days
• 34 tons of peanuts
• 2 tons of salt
• 100 plus volunteers
• 1,000 plus customers
• 53-year-old tradition

Summer is coming to Alabama, bringing the scorching heat and high humidity that can lead to high energy bills as we all try to cool our homes. But you don’t have to break the bank to stay comfortable during the summer months. Here are a few ways to save energy and reduce your bill while keeping cool:

1. Set your thermostat to 78º or higher: For every degree you raise your thermostat, you can save up to 3% on your cooling costs. If you have no pets and your house stays empty during the day, you may even want to turn your thermostat off while you’re away.
2. Use fans: Ceiling fans and portable fans can help circulate air throughout your home, making it feel cooler and reducing the strain on your air conditioning unit. Set your fan to spin counterclockwise —that way, the blades push air downward and create a cool breeze.
3. Keep blinds and curtains closed during the day: Blocking out the sun can reduce the heat entering your home and make it easier for your air conditioning to keep up. But remember not to use dark-colored blinds and curtains, as they may hold heat instead of helping cool your home.
4. Use your grill: Cooking indoors can generate a lot of heat, so take advantage of the warm weather and fire up your grill instead. If you are not a big fan of grilling, consider whipping up cool summer treats that require minimal use of the stove and oven.
5. Seal air leaks: Weatherstripping your windows and doors is one of the best ways to keep hot air from entering and cool air from escaping.
6. Switch to LED lightbulbs: Not only do they last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, but they also generate less heat and use less energy. Some LED bulbs are even Wi-Fi enabled and can be controlled from your smartphone or with a smart home assistant.
7. Use a programmable thermostat: You can set the thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature in your home based on your schedule, saving energy when you’re not there. It helps you ensure you are not wasting money cooling an empty house.
8. Plant native trees or install shading devices: Reducing the amount of direct sunlight hitting your home can lower cooling costs. If you want to get really creative, you can even transform your roof into a green or living roof that’s a natural insulator for your home.
9. Do your laundry and run your dishwasher at night: Appliances for washing and drying can generate a lot of heat, so running them at night when it’s cooler means your home stays more comfortable during the daytime. And that’s not all — you will also help lower peak energy demand by scheduling your energy-intensive tasks for later in the day.

By implementing these energy-saving tips, you can keep your energy bill under control and still enjoy a cool and comfortable summer. Not only will you save money, but you will also contribute to a more sustainable future and help your cooperative continue to provide high-quality electric service to all members.

In the close-knit community of Goshen, 1 man leaves an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of those who knew him.

Jimmy Shaver was more than just a farmer. He wore many hats, both figuratively and literally. His enviable cap collection wasn’t store-bought either — it was hard-earned with a lifetime of devotion to the many local organizations they represented, including South Alabama Electric Cooperative, where he served on the board for an impressive 41 years.

With Jimmy’s baseball caps showcased on the kitchen table, his wife, LaRue, and two sons, Curtiss and Jim, pored over his belongings as they reflected on the legacy of a man whose love for his community was woven into the very fabric of his life.

Connection, Camaraderie

Jimmy’s social nature was evident in his daily interactions. Most mornings, you’d find Jimmy at the Eagle’s Nest, a local gas station deli. If someone wandered in while Jimmy was there, he’d strike up a conversation, taking genuine interest in their lives.

“If somebody walked in who he didn’t know, before they left, he would know all about them,” LaRue says. “It was because he cared. A lot of people thought it was just nosy, but he really cared about everyone.”

Little Black Book

Among his close friends, Jimmy became known for his “little black book,” a small yearly calendar he carried in his back pocket. This unassuming little book served as his personal hard drive. When one filled up, he bought another and stored away his used books for safekeeping. Inside their pages were meticulously recorded phone numbers, names and appointments that spanned years.

While some poked fun at his reliance on handwritten notes, Jimmy’s trust in his little black book never wavered. He spurned computers, opting for the tangible reassurance of hard copies. His white truck, a familiar sight around Goshen, was easily identified by its dashboard always covered in loose papers, documents and reminders. “It was his filing cabinet,” Jim says.

He knew how important it was for electricity to be in rural America where it was hard to get. — Curtiss Shaver

To Jimmy, his little black book and cluttered dashboard reflected his fidelity to the community he loved. To him, it was important to keep track of names, numbers and appointments, to ensure that he never forgot a commitment or overlooked a connection.

‘It Was Good Times’

That love for personal connection brought Jimmy and LaRue together at the square dances where their lives intertwined. Their friend groups often mingled at a corner in Goshen, where they would gather to drink Cokes and listen to music from the record player in Jimmy’s black Pontiac. “There were always a bunch of us, and it was good times,” LaRue says.

Before their paths crossed, Jimmy had already served in the Navy aboard the USS Hancock. After completing his service, he worked for South Central Bell as a microwave station technician, assisting with the smooth operation of telephones throughout the region. He was first positioned in Montgomery but longed to return to his hometown.

He finally got his wish when he was granted a transfer to work in Troy, allowing Jimmy and LaRue to settle down in Goshen. There, they built a home and raised their two sons.

For many years, Jimmy worked night shifts for South Central Bell and farmed row crops during the day on land he rented. His work ethic didn’t give him much time for leisure.

“Whenever Mama was off work, we would take him something to eat, and I remember pulling up and he’d be laying down beside the tractor tire taking him a nap,” Jim says.

Farming — A Way of Life

Jimmy’s true passion was farming, which he saw as a way of life. Together Jimmy and LaRue meticulously saved their money and gradually acquired parcels of land, expanding their farming enterprise, growing peanuts, raising hogs and cows and eventually establishing chicken houses.

Jimmy understood the significance of agriculture, recognizing that it was not solely about the money it provided. “He didn’t farm to live, he lived to farm,” LaRue says.

This deep understanding led Jimmy to participate in community organizations such as the Pike County Cattlemen’s Association and the Pike County Farmers Federation, where he contributed his expertise and insights.

Champion for Co-ops

In 1981, Jimmy began his 41 years on the South Alabama Electric Cooperative’s Board of Trustees. In 2014, he led the board as its president, a role he held up until his death in March at the age of 81. He also served on the board of trustees for PowerSouth Energy Cooperative and Alabama Rural Electric Association. “To him, it was not a position. It was a duty,” LaRue says.

With firsthand experience of life both with and without electricity, Jimmy possessed a deep understanding of the vital role played by electric cooperatives.

“He knew how important it was for electricity to be in rural America where it was hard to get,” Curtiss says. “He understood how valuable it was to the community.”

While on the SAEC board, Jimmy was known for being amiable, but he was always willing to challenge the status quo in a respectful manner when he felt it was necessary.

“Jimmy was never shy about doing the right thing,” says David Bailey, SAEC’s general manager. “I believe it was his commitment to fairness that guided his decisions on the board. His concern was always the member. He believed they had a right to good service. We are grateful for the many years he dedicated to representing the community and improving our service and he will be greatly missed by all of us here at South Alabama Electric.”

He was also a member of the Goshen Civic Club and a lifetime member of Little Oak Methodist Church, where he served most of his life as a trustee.

Through all of life’s challenges, Jimmy maintained a positive outlook and sense of contentment. Even in the face of illness, he rarely complained, always responding with a simple, “I’m OK.”

Celebrating a Legacy

His funeral was a tribute to everything that Jimmy held dear. An arrangement of wheat, cotton and peanut plants was woven into a wreath and adorned with a couple of his well-loved hats. Lineworkers served as his pallbearers, paying homage to his role in the electric co-op. And his funeral procession, featuring an electric co-op bucket truck, passed by his farmland, his home and his church on the way to his final resting place.

It’s not just his remarkable contributions to the community that define Jimmy’s legacy, however. His greatest accomplishment lies in the family he created and the values he passed down to his children and grandchildren.

Survived by his wife of 56 years, LaRue Carr Shaver, and their sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Kristi Shaver and Curtiss and Traci Shaver, Jimmy’s spirit lives on. Curtiss and Jim follow in their father’s footsteps, embracing the farming life and continuing his commitment to community service. They carry forward his deep appreciation for the land, his work ethic and his dedication to making a difference. His grandchildren — Zane, Jolea, Hunter and Sophie Jaymes Shaver — will carry his torch, their lives shaped by the values that defined their grandfather’s life.

As Curtiss reflects on his father’s teachings, he muses, “I think he instilled in us that basically, the joy in life was the task that God puts in front of you and to enjoy your task, whatever it may be.”